Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Feds commit $140M to keep temporary veterans staff

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Feb, 2022 03:39 PM
  • Feds commit $140M to keep temporary veterans staff

OTTAWA - Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay says the federal government will spend nearly $140 million over the next two years to retain temporary staff hired to deal with a backlog of disability claims from injured ex-soldiers.

Today’s funding announcement comes after The Canadian Press reported earlier this month that the government was poised to lose hundreds of temporary staff next month.

That was despite Veterans Affairs Canada still having nearly 34,000 unprocessed applications for disability benefits on its desk, a number officials warned would grow by the thousands if more temporary staff weren’t retained.

MacAulay at that time said any new funding would have to wait until the next federal budget, meaning a delay of weeks if not months.

In response to the Canadian Press report, Royal Canadian Legion dominion president Bruce Julian last week sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking that the temporary staff be kept on contract until the backlog is eliminated.

The backlog has emerged as one of the main sources of frustration, anger and hardship for Canada's veterans' community, with those ill and injured forced to wait months — and often years — for access to financial or medical support for their injuries.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Order invoking Emergencies Act is now public

Order invoking Emergencies Act is now public
The order is now public on the government website but it took effect Monday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the plan at a news conference from Parliament Hill.

Order invoking Emergencies Act is now public

Climate change doubled chance of B.C. flood: study

Climate change doubled chance of B.C. flood: study
The study concludes that the likelihood of similar events in the future will only increase as global warming continues to upend normal weather patterns. Almost 15,000 people were forced from their homes at the peak of the November floods.    

Climate change doubled chance of B.C. flood: study

RCMP clear protest blocking B.C. border crossing

RCMP clear protest blocking B.C. border crossing
In addition, multiple vehicles that were blocking 176 Street were removed from the area and the road has re-opened. Vehicles and pedestrians are now able to access the border crossing.

RCMP clear protest blocking B.C. border crossing

B.C. expected to announce COVID-19 rule changes

B.C. expected to announce COVID-19 rule changes
The most recent public health orders related to gatherings, events, bars and restaurants, for example, were set to expire on Wednesday and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said she would announce any changes a day earlier.

B.C. expected to announce COVID-19 rule changes

Canada to boost immigration levels over 3 years

Canada to boost immigration levels over 3 years
Federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in his newly released plan that Canada will admit 431,645 permanent residents in 2022, 447,055 next year and 451,000 in 2024.

Canada to boost immigration levels over 3 years

Canadians donated most to convoy: alleged leak

Canadians donated most to convoy: alleged leak
Distributed Denial of Secrets, which has a history of obtaining leaked information from right-wing organizations and providing it to media, says it has received over 30 megabytes of donor information from Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo.

Canadians donated most to convoy: alleged leak